Help for friend - Re: child not eating

Re: Help for friend - Re: child not eating

• gisellems

  August 2009

  wow! he really does eat anything at all? does he have a favorite food? maybe she shoudl try the pediasure milk, try soy burguers if he doesnt like meat (they have this at walmart), they also have veggie nuggets made with veggies and chesee, some v8 juice? maybe? and also offer him food more often mabe 6 times a day tiny meal/snack kinda thing... this is a really though situation, i hope things get better, but tell her not to give up!
  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• Dani123

  August 2009

  DO the docs give a reason that hes not eating? Does he drink milk or anything else? Can she make shakes to give him more nourishment/protein? (sp?)...Was there a trama or an incident? Has he ever eaten? I have a friend whos son had a gag reflex...when he first started solids, she gave him mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, and he seriously gagged on it, ever since then he had a serious fear of food.  SO he always refused.  Well she took him to a therapist (nutrional) and they did ALL KINDS of exercises with him where you play with food, etc.. so he could acclamate himself to it and realize it wouldnt hurt him...They guided her thru every step and it took about a year but he made GREAT STRIDES and now is a TERRIFIC eater....

  Report0 Reply
• abpdjs

  August 2009

   

  withholding toys/privileges , imo, i would not think this would solve the issue or the right way to handle it.  it sounds more serious than a stubborn toddler not eating.  if he is losing weight and it is affecting his health and bone growth i would get  a second opinion and go beyond a nutrionalist (not saying to cut out a nutrionalist) but he sounds like he needs more than this.  there must be something going on internally, has been to a GI specialist?  does the pedi want to have him looked at internally to try to figure out what is going on?

  Report0 Reply
• jessica1080

  August 2009

  I agree with abpdjs...I think there must be something else going on.  It sounds like maybe something GI related.  He could have acid reflux or what if his esophagus is too small and food actually gets stuck and then it hurts.  Both of my grandmothers have had theirs stretched.  I think I would get a second opinion or a referral to a GI specialist.  Kids sometimes go through non-eating stages, but the fact that his is so severe is more than just a phase. 

  Also, ditto pp who said if he is willing to drink maybe make him protein shakes or give him the pedisure for extra calories. 

  my read shelf:
  

  Report0 Reply
• jen5-03 member

  August 2009

  Punishment is not going to solve anything - really, what could feel worse than starving yourself already does?

  Will he drink milkshakes or smoothies? You can hide a lot of nutrition in one of those - adding tofu for protein, maybe using pediasure as part of it, even veggie juices or applesauce.

  - Jena
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• mommy2jay

  August 2009

  My son is 2 1/2 and weighs only about 24 lbs... he is a picky eater.  It used to be REALLY tough to get him to eat... but I just had to find the few tastes he would go for and stick to those...even if it meant he was eating the same thing all the time.  I added vitamins and made sure he drank milk with that and he is fine.  The doctor says yes he is underweight for his age but that she is not concerned because developmentally he is fine.... maybe your friend can try some stuff that he likes alot and stick to those?  Does he have any fave foods?  For example DS likes chicken nuggets, he likes rice, he like cereal... maybe the foods she is offering to him are very strong in taste so that turns him off?

  Hope he gets better and that she is able to get him on the right track with eating soon!

  Previously posted as "denisethebride"

  Report0 Reply